Tom Sidwell kept wicket for Leicestershire between 1913 and 1933, his total of 551 catches and 127 stumpings constituted a record for the county. He was on the books between 1914 and 1931, when he officially retired, and in that time only missed six matches. He was persuaded to make a comeback in 1933 when Paddy Corrall sustained a fractured skull when hit by a flailing bat and remained for the rest of the summer.

A sound batsman, he enjoyed his best season in 1928 when he scored 1153 runs, average 29.56, and hit two of his three centuries. While he usually preferred to bat down the order, if the occasion demanded he was willing to go at the top of the order.

At his peak he was considered by many to be as good a keeper as England incumbent Herbert Strudwick - and he was certainly a more accomplished batsman - but he had the misfortune to play for an unfashionable county.

He never lost his love for the game and was playing club cricket until a year before his death. Martin Williamson

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